PhD studentship- Eurasian Curlew

PhD studentship - Beyond borders: habitat use of wintering Eurasian Curlew in and around coastal SPAs

Location
Based at both Liverpool John Moores University and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Thetford.

Time commitment
Full-time, 1 October 2026 – 30 September 2030 (part-time studentship applications will be considered in exceptional circumstances)

Funding
This is a fully funded PhD. Funding will consist of full UK home student tuition fees, a living stipend at UK Research Council rates for 4 years, and a budget for research costs and training opportunities

Project description
The estuaries of northwestern Europe provide rich feeding grounds for wintering waterbirds on the East Atlantic Flyway, with many designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). While many species spend their time exclusively in estuarine habitats, as tidal mudflat feeders, waders are restricted to using estuarine habitats only when tides are low, moving onto beaches and saltmarshes to roost at high tide, with some species also using inland terrestrial habitats beyond SPA boundaries. The Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) is one such species, with previous work on The Wash SPA suggesting extensive use of agricultural fields for both roosting and feeding through the autumn and winter. Most populations of Curlew across Europe are declining rapidly, and with many coastal areas subject to anthropogenic pressures such as fishing, wildfowl hunting, recreation, and housing and infrastructure development, there is a strong imperative to protect all habitats used by Curlews during the non-breeding season to mitigate threats to their overwinter survival and reduce sources of pressure on already threatened populations.

Drawing on extensive existing datasets, including ringing, colour-mark resighting, high spatial resolution GPS tracking and accelerometry data, the student will assess individual- and population-level movement patterns of over-wintering Eurasian Curlew (UK & Ireland). There will also be the opportunity for fieldwork, collecting information on Curlew behaviour, habitat use, social interactions, and deploying new GPS tags.

This work is crucial for understanding the spatial and temporal importance of different habitats around SPAs on a daily, seasonal and inter-annual basis. Ultimately, the outputs from this project can be used to inform conservation actions and mitigate potential threats to wintering waterbirds in the UK and beyond. 

Training Opportunities
The student will have the opportunity to be based at both Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). At LJMU, the student will be integrated into the vibrant School of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Behavioural Ecology and Physiology Research Group, and will receive a range of research development opportunities and support from the Doctoral Academy and supervisory team. The student will be expected to closely collaborate with BTO’s Wetland & Marine Research Team, who have a wealth of expertise on wintering waterbird ecology and movement data analysis. At BTO, the student will be able to network with top applied conservation researchers and benefit from development opportunities with the BTO’s science communication and engagement teams.

Student Profile
The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, ideally with experience working with biologging data using any of spatial analyses, resource selection or habitat use analysis, network analysis or machine learning expertise. The candidate should have strong ecological and ornithological knowledge and ideally be familiar with wader ecology. The candidate would ideally have either a Master’s or equivalent experience, and have experience in interpreting location data. The candidate should be curious and self-motivated, and should be excited about embracing the experience of being based at both Liverpool John Moores University and an applied research eNGO like BTO.

Other information
It is expected that the student would spend time based at both LJMU and BTO (Thetford office) throughout the course of the PhD, with the initial expectation this time might be more weighted towards LJMU early in the PhD, with more time at BTO later in the PhD. However, this is not prescriptive and will depend on the student’s personal circumstances and agreed working arrangements with the supervisory team.

Funding notes
The successful student will be supported by four years (Oct 2026 - Sep 2030) of full funding via an unusual privately funded studentship opportunity from BTO.

Only UK home students are eligible for this studentship. Applications from candidates from under-represented ethnic minority backgrounds are encouraged.

Funding will consist of full UK home student tuition fees and a living stipend at UK Research Council rates for 4 years. The student will also benefit from a substantial budget for research costs and training opportunities. Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress via a yearly review.

Application process
Closing date for receipt of applications is 18th February 2026 @ 23:59 GMT. Applications will be assessed by the supervisory team and the funders of the studentship opportunity. 

Applicants must be available for online interviews on Thursday 26th February 2026. The interview panel will comprise the supervisory team members.

As this is a joint project between BTO and LJMU, for informal discussions about this opportunity please send your email to both Dr Christine Beardsworth- LJMU (C.E.Beardsworth@ljmu.ac.uk) and Dr Sam Franks- BTO (samantha.franks@bto.org).

If you have a disability or long-term illness that otherwise prevents you from meeting any of the essential criteria, please contact us to discuss whether a reasonable adjustment could be made.

Charity No. 216652 (E&W); SC039193 (Scotland)